#who would look for a missing brown girl? charles' death is already brushed off i doubt it would have changed if he was a girl/woman instead

[nobledragonflying]

I just want to say that I love Esther Finch and she is a great villain but she is sooooooo sinister. I don't think enough people realize how terrible she truly is beacuse we mostly see her as a somewhat campy villain. Which she is but she is also so much more.

To start with she goes after Becky Aspen, a little black girl, and, well, Becky is a very vulnerable person because of it. The police and even other (white) people will be less likely to look for her because she is black. I wouldn't be surprised that the police did very little to look into her disappearance. And Esther isn't a stupid woman, she most likely went after Becky because she uses the systemic issues in place that make it easier for her to go after vulnerable girls, such as Becky Aspen.

Not to mention that the police wouldn't have gone after her anyways because she is friendly with them and they are friendly with her. She talks to them like a friend and the police treat her like one. And it's easy for Esther to do because she is a wealthy white woman, why would she be the cause of such a horrible tragedy? She is trust worthy and our friend so of course this wealthy white woman is not the kidnapper/killer. Because she is a wealthy white woman.

More under the cut

The police also show their incompetence/bias in the show by dismissing Crystal and Niko during the Lighthouse Leapers, because they are 1) outsiders in this town 2) are renting at Jenny's so they must be poor 3) not at school so they must be high/on drugs and 4) woman of color, while not mentioned, is something that most likely played a factor in the cops decision to not believe them.

The cop also immediately runs into Esther, who further turns the cop against Crystal and Niko. Esther takes advantage of her position in society, especially to those who are beneath her, to have power and control over them.

And the police will not side with her victims because it is her words over theirs and her word carries far more weight than those of her victims.

After all, Esther Finch is such a poor wealthy white woman and she is so sinister because it reflects our reality of how we (western) society view wealthy white woman.

[spidernerdsblog]

Can I request reader going to meet mob! tom's friends and when tom gets there, everyone tells him about the hot girl who just walked in and how they wanna fuck her tonight and when he tells them it's his gf they are like 😳 oh and you know tom being the most fearless mobster has trouble controlling his rage and maybe both y/n and tom have some jealous sex. pls I hope this doesn't trigger you and only write this if you want to and stay safe

I literally listened to where you belong by the weeknd while writing this the whole time lol. Hope you like this.

Pairing : Mob! Tom Holland x Reader

Warnings : 18 +, SMUT, mature content, dom/sub dynamics, light bondage, language, breeding kink, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it)

Where you belong

It was like any other night where Tom had to attend one of those lavish parties thrown by the biggest crime families in the country after all he's the mob boss but this time it was little different as you were going to join him tonight. After dating for six months Tom finally thought to introduce you to his underworld friends. Tom was dressed as usual in his business clothes which was a nice ensemble from Prada looking dashingly handsome as always. On the other hand you chose to wear the skin tight dress which Tom liked the most according to him it brings out the best of you. 

Reaching the venue you stepped out of the car as Tom hands the valet the car keys to park his car. Just when you were about to go inside together Tom remembers that he had an important phone call to make.

"Love, you go inside I'll be right behind you" He says to you.

"Okay come fast" you give a smile.

"Yeah I will" after making the call Tom goes inside the hall to find you when he heard some of his friends call out to him.

‘‘Hey Tom!’’ He momentarily forgot about you and made his way towards them.

"So what's up boys?" He pats Michael’s shoulder taking a drink from the ushers. 

"Tom, mate, you have no idea what you just missed’’ he informs all excitedly. 

‘‘Oh really? What was it?’’ he asked, amused.

‘‘Ask who was it, she was a fucking bombshell man, who just walked right through that door!" 

"You should have looked at her ass mate god I just want to fuck her so bad" Charles added.

"Keep dreaming you suckers because Roy is already at it, look over there" Liam chuckles pointing out to them. Tom followed their gaze and his jaw clenched as soon as he saw you, smiling and talking to one of his friends, he inhaled sharply in anger at the fact that all this time his friends were just talking about fucking you in front of him. 

‘‘Damn Roy is gonna get lucky tonight just look at those tits’’ Michael remarks as everyone chuckles except Tom who was fuming with rage.

‘‘You say another fucking word about her and I��m gonna cut that filthy tongue of yours!’’ He spat at him.

‘‘Woah man, relax. What got you so riled up?��’ Tom turned to them with a death glare.

"Listen you morons I want to make this loud and clear, she’s my girl’’ everyone’s eyes went wide in shock as they gulped hard in fear because the last thing anyone would want is to piss off Tom ‘‘and if anyone of you even dare to have improper thoughts about her I’m gonna put a fucking bullet in your heads! Do you fucking get that?!’’ He growled as everyone hung their heads low in fear agreeing to him. He then strides his way towards you.

‘‘So all by yourself?’’ Roy asks with suave in his voice.

‘‘Oh no, I’m with my boyfriend, Tom Holland you might know him’’

‘‘You- you are Holland’s girl?’’ He stutters in fear knowing that he is good as dead if Tom comes to know that he was trying to bed his girl.

‘‘Yeah’’ you tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear smiling.

"Hey darling" you felt a familiar pair of hands wrap around your waist possessively.

"There he is!" you chirped as Tom knelt down to plant a soft kiss on your cheek.

"Where were you?" you pouted.

"Sorry darling was just catching up with some friends" 

"Hey Tom" Roy says awkwardly trying to act friendly

"Hey Roy" Tom gives him a hard glare and turns to you.

"I think it's time for us to leave" He says pressing his lips in a thin line.

"But Tom we just arrived won't you have a couple of drinks" you frowned at the sudden change of plans.

"I think I actually had enough darling, let's go now" He says sternly, you noticed his hard gaze and stopped yourself from questioning him further.

"Okay" He literally dragged you out of the place to the parking area. You got inside the car and sat on the passenger seat as Tom sat on the driver's seat slamming the door shut with such force that startled you. 

The whole ride back was completely silent; you occasionally saw him gripping on the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white. You knew your boyfriend as the most feared mob boss who was also known for his short temper. And by the look on his face he seemed angry for some reason which you are unable to figure out. Surprisingly his angry demeanor was turning you on, you shifted on your seat uncomfortably as you felt heat pool between your legs which didn't go unnoticed by Tom. 

Tom didn't want the night to end like this but here he was furious and raging from inside. He was very well aware of his anger management issues and since the day you walked into his life he has tried to be the better man for you including keeping his anger in check because he would do anything for you. He was never the kind of man to be triggered with such petty things but when it comes to you he just can't control himself he couldn't get over the thought of his friends were literally eye fucking you in front him. It wasn't your fault though you were no doubt beautiful and he feels extremely lucky that he gets to call you his. But seeing you talking and laughing with Roy just lighted up his fuse. He knew you were just being nice to him but when he knows what Roy's actual intentions were with you just makes him see red. 

He just wants to be reassured again that you belonged to him and only him which he is going to make sure tonight. And seeing you getting all fidgety he knew that you were soaking with arousal making him smirk internally at the effect he has on you. 

You finally reached the driveway of your mansion as Tom pulled over the car. You couldn't take the silence anymore and finally spoke up. 

"Tom are you OK?" your voice was full of concern reaching out a hand to his forehead "You are sweating" He grabs your hand with a death grip making you swallow hard as your gaze shifted to his brown orbs which were now swirling with rage and pure lust, yes he was angry and you know exactly what is going to happen next you found yourself getting even more wet just at the thought of it. 

"Bedroom. Strip and wait for me" his voice sharp and dominating. You nodded and let out a small "Yes" 

"Yes what?" He demands. 

"Yes sir" you say submissively, the corner of his lips curl up to a smirk as he brushes your cheekbone with his knuckles gently. 

"Good girl" 

You got out of the car and immediately went to your bedroom. Without wasting any time you did just as you were told, taking off your dress, you sat on the bed on your knees in just your lace panties with palms laying flat on your thighs as you waited for him in anticipation. Every passing minute felt like an hour as you felt your nipples harden in the cool air and arousal pool between your legs, you rubbed your thighs to get some relief from the growing ache. 

He finally arrives after some agonizing moments later the tux he was wearing already discarded and some of the buttons of his shirt unbuttoned giving a nice peak to the solid abs underneath. 

"Such a good girl, aren't you princess?" he cooes as he walks in and sits in front of you. 

"Only for you Tommy" you say sweetly. He knelt down and grabbed your jaw roughly to capture your lips hungrily his tongue prys open your mouth exploring your mouth. He gently sucks on your bottom lip tugging it lightly before pulling away you look at him through your lashes gasping. He brushes his thumb against your swollen bottom lip which you eagerly wrapped your lips onto, sucking and swirling your tongue around it as you hold onto his arm.

"Now don't be so greedy" he purrs as you release his thumb with a pop. 

"Give me your hands" He demands as you reluctantly extend your hands to him. Tom knows how you hate your hands being tied up with how much you love to run your hands through his hair and hold him close to you making you feel safe in his arms but today he had to establish that you were only his, he takes out his tie that was stuffed in his back pocket and ties up your hands with intricate knots. 

"Is this OK?" he asks tugging on it.

"Yes" you affirm, he pushes you onto the bed as you fall back on the soft mattress with him hovering over you as he unbuttons the rest of the buttons of his shirt and takes it off in a swift move. 

"So beautiful and just for me" he says with hooded eyes while his hands trailed down your inner thigh as the coolness of the gold rings on his finger sent shivers right up your core. He pinned your tied hands above your head when you tried to raise them.

‘‘Uh uh princess I thought you were my good girl’’ He patronizes

‘‘I am’’ you whimper in his strong hold.

‘‘Then behave if you don’t want me to leave you like this’’ he says kissing down your throat. You let out a gasp when you felt his warm mouth latch on to your hardened nipple. He smirked and continued sucking, teeth grazing on your soft mounds making you moan. 

"How dare those bastards look at what is mine?!" he growls in between littering your skin with wet kisses and marking you.

You were so helpless and completely at his mercy. Writhing under him and craving him so badly, snaking a hand inside your soaked panties, "so fucking wet" he observed as he spread your slick around your folds, pulling a desperate whimper from you. He brings his fingers to his mouth. 

"Tastes so sweet every time angel" he hums sucking them clean. He then trailed kisses down your stomach, on your navel, before he found home between your legs as he hooks his fingers to the waistband of your panties and simply rips it off you. He stared at your bare, glistening pussy hungrily as if you were his last meal. He dives down right into it sloppily licking through your folds making you arch your back but he holds you down placing a hand on your stomach as he continues his assault. 

You felt dizzy, your brain barely able to comprehend your surroundings. The only sensation you felt was Tom and his calloused fingers which he expertly worked up your dripping cunt and threw you over the edge. When he pushed three of his fingers inside you, you felt delirious and came all around his fingers. 

Tom quickly gets rid of the rest of his clothes and holds himself above you resting his forearm on the side of your head one hand reaches down to grab his throbbing member as he swipes his tip through your slick folds coating it with your arousal before pushing it in your aching hole. You gasp as you feel his tip slide past your entrance and fills you entirely, the stretch making you close your eyes in pleasure. 

‘‘Always so fucking tight!’’ He grunts feeling your walls warm and snug around him. Your eyes shoot wide open as he pulls his hips back and slams right into you without even letting you adjust to him, drawing out a loud moan from you. 

You were writhing underneath him wriggling your hands desperately wanting to feel him and hold on to him. Tom finally took mercy on you as he snakes a hand to your wrists and unties your restraints. As soon as your hands were free you flung them to his back pulling him closer as possible, one hand went to tug on to the roots of his hair. You wrapped your legs around his hips, hooking them behind his back. You could never get enough of him, you needed him deep inside you exploring parts of you that no one could ever reach. He nips at your neck sucking on your skin harshly, making sure for everyone to see who you belong to.

"Who is making you feel this good princess?" His voice raspy and breathless.

"You…" your voice trailed off as he pounds into you mercilessly. 

"Didn't hear you princess" he reaches down to rub where your bodies were connected. 

"You Tom! You!" you shrieked out at the added stimulation.

"That's right baby, I’m the only one who can make you feel like this, no one can make you scream the way I do, no one knows where to touch you like I do" he rubs harsher circles on your sensitive bud and moves his hips to thrust into you deeper, your moans growing louder and louder boosting his ego as your walls clasp around him.

"Fuck! I need to make sure everyone knows who you belong to eh? Maybe put a baby in you, what do you say?" He reckons while he continued to rut his hips

"Yes Tom fill me up, fill me up with your babies" you nod your head furiously as the sound of skin slapping against each other fills the room along with your grunts and moans.

"You will look so pretty baby, all round and beautiful with our child" He brushes your hair gently from your sweat covered face, you were a babbling mess by now unable to form any proper words except his name, his words only spurring you on to your impending climax. He keeps pounding into you even harder than before as you feel your body tense up, toes curling as the coil inside your stomach tightened.

"C'mon baby cum all over my cock, make me fill you up and mark you as mine" He urges and you screamed out when you felt the coil inside you finally snap your walls tightening around him as you came undone raking your nails down his back while his lips captured your swollen ones swallowing your moans as he finally cums inside you filling you up with his warm release and collapses on top of you.

"Mine" he mumbles into your skin between ragged breaths. 

"All yours" you say reassuringly running your fingers through his hair soothingly catching your breath. 

..................................................................................

[otomememento]

The Gentleman

Cybird Creative Challenge: Day 24 - Paris  

“Here comes a candle to light you to bed, And here comes a chopper To chop off your head.”

Esme heard the sound of youthful voices singing and stopped to look around.  A group of girls were playing a game.  Two of them were holding each other’s hands up to create an arch, while a stream of other girls ran under the arch.  They all looked to be in good spirits, and their voices were carefree as they sang the song.  It was in English, which she understood, but heavily accented by their Parisian tongue.  Thinking back to her own childhood, Esme stood there and observed the young girls at play, a nostalgic half-smile on her face.

“Chip, Chop, Chip, Chop The last man’s dead!”

The little girls giggled as their arms went down around the unlucky girl who had been between them when the final word of the song was sung.  Esme was about to laugh at the protests of the young girl, but something else caught her eye.  Across the way, a young man was standing there, also watching the girls.  He was a handsome fellow, with a boyish mop of red hair and eyes that were a very unnatural blend of colors; they reminded Esme of the opal earrings she once had.  He was well-dressed, with a black vest, gray pants, and red shoulder-cape.  Around his neck was a choker that made Esme think of more modern clothing.

But he wasn’t smiling.  Instead, his face was twisted up in an expression of pain, the skin drained of all color.  One of his hands tightly clutched the red fabric of his cape.  Concerned, Esme walked past the girls, who had already begun the next round of their game, and moved towards him, her steps rapid.

“Monsieur?  Are you okay?” she asked, her soft brown eyes hiding nothing of her worry.  The man’s face went slack, the pained expression lessening, as he turned those beautiful eyes on Esme.  Her heart sped up.  Although he looked around her age, there was something in those eyes that seemed much older.  It was eerily similar to the looks she often saw among her house-mates.  Her heart was fully hammering now.  Could he be…?

“I am now,” he said.  Even his voice was surprising, it sounded light, yet with a bit of rasp to it, almost as if a naturally pleasant voice was somehow stained.  Esme shivered slightly.

“Are you sure?  It looked like you were in pain.”  The man hadn’t released his deathly grip on his cape, and Esme reached out to touch it.  Despite the fact that she initiated the contact, her face showed shock when her skin actually brushed up against his.  The hand was cooler than she expected, but she was surprised that the contact was allowed at all.  Most people moved away when a stranger reached for them.  The man stared back at her, his own expression showing equal surprise, mouth falling open a trifle.  His hand slowly released the fabric, where it fluttered slightly in the wind.

“No, there’s no pain,” he assured her quickly, his eyes roaming over her as though to take her measure.  “But it was…kind of you to ask, Mademoiselle.”  Slowly Esme smiled and a few seconds later, so did the man.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she said with genuine relief, softness infusing her features.  Putting a hand up to his chest, the man gave a bit of a bow.

“My name is Charles,” he said, amicable despite the rasp.

“And I’m Esme.”  At this point Charles reached for her hand and grasped it, dropping a light kiss across the back, along the knuckles.

“Enchanté,” he murmured against the skin.

“I…um…oh!”  Esme was blushing now, and Charles didn’t miss this fact; he tilted his head to the side slightly as he regarded her.  A warm feeling spread throughout him.  This girl was concerned for him: the man who was dubbed the Gentleman of Paris.  A man with nothing but death on his hands and to his name.  Ah, but would she have been so concerned about him if she knew the truth?  Charles wondered if he was brave enough to find out.

[classysassy9791]

When a job goes terribly wrong, the Fairy Tail guild is left to pick up the pieces. Mourning the deaths of their guildmates, Lucy can't seem to find the strength to move forward. But she comes to realize one person understands. His madness was her mercy, and she finally began to hope that maybe he could make her heart beat again.

Fandom: Fairy Tail Genre: Adventure/Tragedy Warning: Character Death(s) Chapter 1 Word Count: 2,700 Can also be found here

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"I'm all fired up now!"

When Lucy Heartfilia had stumbled into the port of Hargeon so long ago, she had never really expected to be swept away by fairies into a world of chance encounters. It had been her dream, of course. The runaway heiress to her father's fortune, the cliche rich girl running from the burdens of her family's wealth, wanting more than the walls of her courtyard and proper lessons to fulfill her. Her fearless soul had led her into more trouble than she could name, but the company she kept wasn't exactly known for being on their best behavior either.

That's probably why she fit so well into Fairy Tail. Even during that first day of walking into the guildhall, an all-out brawl beginning within moments of arrival, she had melded seamlessly into one of them. In the blink of an eye, she had become acquainted with their strange habits and unruly behavior, but it had been fun and exciting. She never knew what the day would bring, and that's what she loved most about her home. It was a never-ending adventure.

Blonde hair tumbled over her face as Lucy shifted, her cheek pressed against the ground as fingers curled around the loose red-stained gravel. Her dark eyes blearily glanced around at what had survived. The blackness of the night had descended, lit only by the glow of scattered fires rising from the rubble, and the pale moonlight partially obscured behind the clouds. She felt the sweltering heat accompanying the ringing silence as a warm wind swept through what remained of the small, cheerful town.

A breath filled with soot, she coughed, tongue rolling over the metallic taste in her mouth. Her head pounded and her eyes stung from the sweat and blood that trailed down her forehead. Something hard dug into her ribs as a heavy weight pressed against her leg. She winced, brown eyes surveying in an attempt to make sense of up or down.

Everything had gone so very, very wrong.

Lucy groaned as she fought to move to her hands and knees, feeling her limbs shake with the effort. She managed to pull her leg from beneath a piece of crumbled building and ignored the pain that rocketed through every part of her body as her teeth sank into her lip to hold back a shrill cry.

"N-Natsu," she called hoarsely, finally getting her voice to work. Her eyes swept the battlefield for the dragon slayer, worry lines creasing her brow. "Natsu?"

Her chest constricted painfully with each intake of the humid evening air, her throat burning from the dark smoke curling away from the fires surrounding her. She looked down, clenching her hands into fists slowly and then releasing them. Every muscle in her body trembled, completely drained of magic energy. No wonder she felt so incredibly weak.

Lucy let her gaze wander to what lay before her, the bodies of townsfolk buried beneath rubble or half-charred from the blasts, the shops and roadways almost completely demolished. Magic mobiles had been turned over and crushed into mere metal fragments, almost unrecognizable from their original forms. How… How could this have happened?

Somehow managing to pull herself up on what remained of nearby framework, Lucy tested out her strength to stand. A large gash ran along her right thigh, sticky with dried blood; her clothes were tattered and torn, strung together by mere threads, and exposing her wounded flesh. She paused, attempting to will away her pounding headache and the searing agony with a few deep breaths. Her mind worked to recall what had happened, her stomach twisting in knots with each flashing memory. She closed her eyes against the burn of tears, and steeled her resolve. She needed to… She had to…

Grinding her teeth against the ebb and flow of the pain, she pushed off the framework and took a step, and then another, as she began searching through what was left of the town. She limped over collapsed buildings to the town square, her gait that was smooth only that morning was faltering and uneven. Her ponytail hung raggedly, loose hair falling over her features that contorted with effort.

Lucy winced as she stepped on something sharp and looked down, just now realizing that both of her shoes had somehow gone missing. "E-Erza?" she tried screaming, her voice straining with the effort. "Gray?"

It had been such a simple mission, promising enough jewels to satisfy her rent for the month. Her team had taken the job, minus Wendy who stayed behind with Charle, thankful for the reprieve after their battle with the dragons that followed the Grand Magic Games. What she wouldn't give for Wendy to be there now…

Lucy's vision blurred as tears again filled her eyes. "Happy?" she cried out meekly for the blue exceed. Even his annoying comments would be better than the eerie silence.

A whimper escaped her lips as she realized she was utterly alone.

She paused in her walking to regain her breath, eyes sweeping over the once green lands of the earth, now no more than ash and charcoal. The air was heavy with the smell of burnt flesh and smoke hung in a haze that partially obscured the moon. What remained of the town stood like skeletons, a barren wasteland, and empty now that destruction had taken whatever the fire didn't. All while the oppressive heat rained down like the breath of hell.

Wrapping her arms around herself, Lucy tried to stop the shaking in her limbs, the silence of the night sending a chill down her spine. Jaw rooted, she realized the town around her reminded her so much of the battle with the dragons - the destruction, the fires, the derelict shells of what remained. The only difference was that there were no battle cries in the distance or bursts of magic energy. There was no one.

Suddenly, she heard it, a voice ringing out over the carnage. "Princess!"

She turned and immediately felt relief at seeing the celestial maiden in the distance. "Virgo!" she breathed, her cracked lips pulling into a smile. Although battered and bruised, her spirit looked relatively unharmed. "You came."

Wide, cerulean eyes gazed at her as Lucy stumbled closer. "Of course," she responded gravely, her voice absent of her usual chipper attitude. She pointed to her left. "I have located the stripper."

A few yards away, Gray sat against corrugated iron, dark blue eyes meeting her own as she approached. "L-Lucy?" he rasped out, wincing as he shifted and blood pooled from a wound to his abdomen. He clutched it tightly, his chest heaving as he drew in shuddering breaths.

She gave him a shaky smile, tears coming to her eyes. "Hey, Gray," she greeted quietly. "I'm so happy you're okay."

He drew his eyes to the ground, his gaze suddenly hard, as he shook his head. "Y-Yeah," he choked out, clenching his hand into a tight fist. "But Erza…"

The celestial mage's stomach dropped as her wide eyes swept the surrounding area, and her gaze finally fell on the crumpled body of their comrade. "Erza!" She staggered over to where her friend lay, her thoughts racing. "Erza!"

Falling to her knees, Lucy crawled to the requip mage's side. Her eyes fixated on Erza's blank stare, her scarlet hair forming a bloody halo around her head. Her armor had been broken beyond repair, laying in shards on the ground beside her, slowly disappearing as its magic faded. "Erza?" she called aimlessly, trying not to think about the ashen color of her skin.

She reached out to brush a stray piece of hair from her cheek. She was cold - the warmth already leaving. Still, Lucy rested her head against her chest, free of its armor, and listened to the empty cavity that held no beating heart. The life that had dwelt within her was gone, and she reluctantly knew what had become of the famous Titania.

"S-She's gone," she whispered brokenly, tears spilling from wide, disbelieving eyes.

"No!" she heard Gray shout from behind her, his voice screaming with denial. "Not Erza! She can't be!"

Lucy swallowed thickly, her mind reeling as she battled to stand. Gray's hysterical cries blurred to a monotonous white noise. Fear suddenly clutched her heart as she murmured, "Natsu," before turning and running toward the last place she thought she had seen the dragon slayer.

"Princess!" Virgo called after her, worried for her mistress's well-being.

"Stay here with Gray!" Lucy instructed over her shoulder, ignoring the agony shooting through her core with every step she took. Tripping and bumbling over the carnage, she continued to shout her partner's name. Brown eyes swept the expanse of the battlefield, searching for any hint of where he may be.

Then she saw it, a flash of pink amidst the brownstone. Among the rubble lay the dragon slayer, covered by a slab broken from a building.

"Natsu!" she yelled, a deep layer of terror in her voice. He laid incredibly still. A twisted piece of shrapnel, cemented to the slab of concrete, pierced his chest, as blood ran freely in thick scarlet rivers before soaking into the fabric of his long overcoat. Lucy fell to her knees and struggled to push the concrete off of him to no avail - her shaking limbs and the growing pain in her shoulder proving just how weak she was.

Onyx eyes turned to look at her, prompting a small smile from her lips. Natsu grinned, and she felt her heart ease for the briefest of moments, until she saw the blood bubbling from his mouth. It slipped down his chin and melted into the white scales of his scarf. Panic gripped her as she quickly pulled his head onto her lap, cradling his broken form.

"Natsu?!"

The fire mage's pink hair stuck to his forehead slick with sweat and so Lucy swept it back, smoothing her fingers through his hair as if that might keep it all together; feeling the coolness of his skin. His natural golden skin had sunken in tone to something so lifeless it scared her just to look at him.

"Help!" she cried out, her eyes lifting to look for a sign of life amongst the wreckage. "Virgo! Gray! Somebody help me!"

"L-Luce…" he spoke, his voice choked with the thick blood that gurgled from his throat.

Her wide eyes turned back to her partner. His body shook in her arms and all she could do was stroke his hair and hold his hand. It barely seemed enough, yet his body calmed with her touch.

"Shh, don't try to talk," she soothed. "It's going to be okay. You're all right. I'm going to fix this, okay? Just hold on."

But as their gazes met, an understanding silently passed between them that she didn't want to believe. They both knew that if it could be fixed, help would already be there, or she would be doing anything other than making promises on her knees.

Her eyes ran over the jagged hole in his chest and she covered it with her trembling hand, watching the dark red trickle over her pale skin. She squeezed her eyes shut to thwart the tears, and leaned down, listening to his breath, shallow and fast, slip from his lips.

"Natsu," she whimpered. "You-You can't-"

He caught her hand and squeezed, a far too feeble touch. "S-Sorry…"

She choked on a gasping sob, shoving the tears from her cheeks. "Natsu… Stop it, please. You're going to be okay. Look at me!" His eyes met hers. "You're going to be okay!"

"D-Didn't mean to make you c-cry." He drew in a sharp intake of air.

She defiantly shook her head. "Don't say that," she admonished fiercely. "Don't talk as if this is the end."

Natsu smiled so briefly with a wide toothy grin, making her heart skip a beat, before his breathing became a noisy rattle. His eyes drifted, becoming half-lidded, and then the light faded from his eyes until they were dark and empty.

Lucy, wide-eyed with incredulity, stared blankly at him, her fingers shakily coming to rest on his cheeks. "N-No," she whispered, blonde hair falling as she shook her head to deny the truth in front of her. She placed a hand over his chest that didn't rise or fall with breath. "No, no, no! Natsu! Come on, you can't do this! You can't die on me!"

She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face into the crook of his neck, feeling the familiar scales of his scarf rub against her cheek. The celestial mage choked and sputtered through her tears, her anguished cries falling on the ears of the dead. She couldn't breathe or even hear the simplicity of her heart racing in her chest.

The pain was like a knife being twisted in her chest. It shot up fast, erasing every thought from her head and paralyzing her body. Apparently she screamed, but she didn't recall that part, only the pain. Black filled the edges of her vision as the rest of the world fell away, her breath coming in ragged, shallow gasps.

"Lucy!"

Suddenly, arms were around her, pulling her upright on her knees. Orange filled her vision as eyes skewed by azure-tinted glasses glanced over her with concern.

"Loke?" she whispered, vaguely recognizing the lion spirit.

"Hey there, Beautiful," he greeted, granting her a shaky smile. "You scared me there."

He must have come on his own.

"Can you stand?"

She listlessly nodded her head as he assisted her to her feet, curling an arm around her waist. "N-Natsu…" Her voice broke as she gasped on her tears.

"Come on," he coerced her gently, pulling her arm around his shoulders. "We have to get out of here."

Lucy stumbled across the remnants of town feeling utterly numb. Her heart squeezed as she almost fell over, saved only by Loke's presence. He casted worried eyes in her direction, but she ignored him, barely able to string a thought together. They had to get back to the guild, she knew, because that was where Wendy was. The sky dragon slayer could heal their fallen friends. She could save them.

Silently, Lucy tumbled. Loke barely had enough time to shoot out calloused hands. "Lucy!" he called, holding her upright. "Lucy!"

She didn't hear him, feeling as if the breath had been knocked from her lungs. Then all of a sudden, the ground disappeared beneath her feet and she was curled against the lion spirit's chest. "We-We need to get back to the guild," she murmured.

She felt him nod. "Yeah," he agreed. "That's right, Princess."

"They need help. They need to come home."

He stiffened beneath her, but pressed onward. "We'll come back for them," he assured her after a moment. "But we can't carry them all the way there right now. You and Gray are injured. You need Wendy-"

"They need Wendy!" she protested defiantly, her head pounding as if hit by a train. She glared up at him, wincing with fierce brown eyes. "Can't you s-see that? We need to get Wendy! She can heal them!"

Loke spared her a brief glance, his lips pulled into a thin line. She watched his Adam's apple bob up and down as he swallowed thickly. "Okay," he finally accepted. "We'll bring them home, Lucy."

Satisfied with his response that he would save their friends, she let unconsciousness take hold, her last image consisting of Virgo with concerned blue eyes.